On December 2, the First Committee approved the draft resolution without a vote, and on December 21 the General Assembly adopted it, also without a vote.79/ Strengthening the Security of Non-Nuclear- Concern over the relationship between nuclear nonproliferation and the legitimate security concerns of non-nuclear-weapon states was reflected in the General Assembly's disarmament debate. Ambassador Martin said on November 1: "The United States recognizes that alleviation of the legitimate security concerns of non-nuclear-weapon states is a critical component of international efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation. It is easier, however, to state the objective than to devise practical and effective means of promoting it." Elaborating on this view, he continued: . we have not been able to accept proposals for universally applicable assurances of the non-use of nuclear weapons, because we have not discovered any formulation that would effectively serve the varied security needs of non-nuclear-weapon states, including our allies. However, we are prepared to consider any appropriate means of strengthening the security of those states, provided such means do not detrimentally affect existing security arrangements. . . On December 1, Pakistan introduced a draft resolution ultimately sponsored by six states. The main operative paragraph of the draft requested the nuclear-weapon states to "consider undertaking, without prejudice to their obligations arising from treaties establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones, not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states not parties to the nuclear security arrangements of some nuclearweapon powers." The First Committee approved the resolution on December 3 by a vote of 88 to 0, with 35 abstentions (U.S.). In explaining the U.S. abstention, Mr. Black reiterated U.S. sympathy for the 79/ Resolution 31/189 B. The United States is one of the 54 members of the Preparatory Committee for the special session appointed by the President of the General Assembly on Feb. 7, 1977. legitimate security concerns of non-nuclear-weapon states, but regretted that the non-use formulation suggested in the resolution did not fully meet U.S. concerns over maintaining the integrity of existing security arrangements. The General Assembly adopted the resolution on December 21 by a recorded vote of 95 (China) to 0, with 33 abstentions (France, U.S.S.R., U.K., U.S.).80 Role of IAEA Safeguards The interest of the General Assembly in nonproliferation matters was demonstrated further by a draft resolution on the IAEA introduced by Finland on December 1 and subsequently also sponsored by Denmark, Iceland, and Norway. The draft, inter alia, (1) recognized that "states accepting effective nonproliferation restraints have a right to enjoy fully the benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy"; (2) requested the IAEA to continue its studies on "the questions of multinational fuel cycle centers and an international regime for plutonium storage as effective means to promote the interests of the nonproliferation regime"; and (3) called upon the IAEA to give careful consideration to suggestions aimed at strengthening its safeguards regime. The First Committee approved the draft resolution on December 3 by a recorded vote of 97 (U.S.) to 1, with 21 abstentions. On December 21, the General Assembly adopted the resolution by a recorded vote of 106 (U.S.S.R., U.K., U.S.) to. 2 (Albania, China), with 22 abstentions (France) 81 Ù.S. support for this resolution reflected its general position in favor of strengthening the IAEA's role in implementing international nonproliferation policies. World Disarmament Conference The question of convening a world disarmament conference has been on the agenda of the General Assembly since 1971, when the Soviet Union introduced the subject. In 1973 the Assembly established an Ad Hoc Committee on the World Disarmament Conference, composed of 40 non-nuclear-weapon states, to examine the views of states on the convening of such a conference. The United States abstained on the initial resolution, but joined in the consensus approval of the 1973 and subsequent follow-up 80/ Resolution 31/189 C. 81/ Resolution 31/189 D. resolutions because they did not imply any commitment to convene or to begin preparations for a conference. The United States in previous years had set forth its position that such a world conference, while it might be useful at an appropriate stage in the future, would at the present time be more harmful than helpful to real progress on disarmament. Two draft resolutions dealing with a world disarmament conference were introduced at the 31st Assembly. The first, introduced by the U.S.S.R. on November 10 and ultimately sponsored by six states, requested the Ad Hoc Committee to prepare a report on a world disarmament conference and to include appropriate recommendations with a view to "facilitating the discussion of the question of convening a world disarmament conference at the special session of the UN General Assembly devoted to disarm0 ament." The second draft resolution, introduced by Argentina on December 1, had 17 sponsors. This draft, noting that the Assembly had decided to hold a special session devoted to disarmament, requested the Ad Hoc Committee "to maintain close contact with representatives of the states possessing nuclear weapons in order to remain currently informed of their respective attitudes." The First Committee approved the 17-power draft resolution without a vote on December 2, and the plenary Assembly adopted the resolution without vote on December 21.82 The U.S.S.R. and its cosponsors did not press their draft to a vote. 82/ Resolution 31/190. OUTER SPACE The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, its Legal Subcommittee, and its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee all met during 1976. The United States participated actively in their activities, as well as in the 31st General Assembly's consideration of the Committee's report .83/ SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE The Scientific and Technical Subcommittee held its 13th session in Geneva from March 22 to April 7. An important part of the session was devoted to the organizational, technical, and financial aspects of remote sensing of the earth by satellites. The Subcommittee also reviewed the UN program on space applications and considered the options relating to a possible UN conference on outer space. In its report to the full Committee, the Subcommittee recognized the need for additional information on the organizational and technical aspects of remote sensing. It recommended that the UN Secretariat prepare further studies on a number of subjects, including (1) a feasibility study on the functions of a possible international remote sensing center and the terms of reference for the possible establishment of a remote sensing panel; and (2) an updated account of existing and planned national and regional remote sensing facilities. However, the Subcommittee agreed that the United Nations could not be expected to own or operate either the ground or space segments of a remote sensing system in the foreseeable future. The Subcommittee reaffirmed the view that regional cooperation, whether international or national in scope, was indispensable for effective and economical activities in the reception and 83 The 37 members of the Outer Space Committee are Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chad, Chile, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France, German Democratic Republic, Federal Republic of Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Sweden, U.S.S.R., United Kingdom, United States, and Venezuela. The two subcommittees have the same membership as the full Committee. dissemination of remote sensing data. There was recognition that the U.S. experimental Landsat program, because of its availability to all countries, represented a model for operational patterns in the future. The Subcommittee discussed and endorsed a proposed 1977 space applications program that would include panels, seminars, workshops, and fellowships in various countries. It also recommended that the UN Secretariat prepare a study in depth on the question of convening a UN conference on outer space matters, which would include the objectives, scope, organizational arrangements, and financial implications of such a conference. LEGAL SUBCOMMITTEE At its 15th session, held in Geneva from May 3 to May 28, the Legal Subcommittee considered (1) a draft treaty relating to the moon; (2) the elaboration of principles governing the use by states of artificial earth satellites for direct television broadcasting; and (3) the legal implications of remote sensing of the earth from space. The Subcom mittee divided into open-ended working groups in order to consider these items. Because of time limitations, the Subcommittee was unable to consider, in any substantial manner, a fourth agenda item relating to the definition and/or delimitation of outer space and outer space activities. Working Group I, concerned with the draft. treaty relating to the moon, gave priority to the question of natural resources, but efforts to reach a compromise solution in this matter were unsuccessful and no new text relating to the question was elaborated. At issue were the interpretation and implications of the principle that the natural resources of the moon are the common heritage of mankind. Some states believe there should be a moratorium on all exploration and exploitation until there is agreement on the regime to govern such exploitation. The United States generally opposes a moratorium and favors an approach that would permit countries to have equal access to development of the moon's natural resources. Working Group II, concerned with the elaboration of principles governing the use by states of artificial earth satellites for direct television broadcasting, formulated texts of nine principles: (1) purposes and objectives, (2) applicability of international law, (3) rights and benefits, (4) international cooperation, (5) state responsibility, (6) duty and right to consult, (7) peaceful |